Long two part folding table



March 24, 1959 H. HOWE I AL LONG mo PART FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1958 mvz fls'fiaz 0 BY Ari/v M 4/ 44, 1

ATTORNEY March 24, 1959 H. HOWE 'ETAL LONG TWO PART FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1958 United States Patfin f LONG TWO PART FOLDING TABLE Application July 21, 1958, Serial No. 749,840

' 6 Claims. 01. 311-92 This invention relates to a folding table characterized in that the whole structure is automatically foldable along hinged transverse lines of fold from a horizontal operative position to a folded vertical position.

The table disclosed herein is a twelve foot table. Heretofore tables of this size have been difiicult to fold and unfold and have been unsteady, tending to teeter back and forth when in folded condition.

An object of this invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a long folding table which is easy to fold or unfold and stands steadily when in unfolded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a center pedestal and swing arm means adapted to support the top parts on the center pedestal when the table is folded, and so related to leg means at the outer ends of the top parts respectively that said leg means are elevated from the floor as the structure is folded and are lowered onto the floor as the structure is unfolded to provide additional support for the 'top when the table is unfolded.

Another objectvof the invention is to provide a structure of the kind described which may be either folded upwardly along its hinged transverse mid-line or unfolded with case, without moving a center pedestal on which the folded structure may be easily moved.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the kind with auxiliary support means at its outer ends operative when the table is unfolded to aid in supporting 5 the outer ends of the table and also in preventing inadvertent moving of the unfolded table or unauthorized moving of the table as by children.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure 2 ,879,120 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 ice center pedestal and serving to balance the halves of the structure and prevent teetering in folded position;

Figure lb is a detail view looking in the direction of arrow 1b to Figure 1a;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the structure of Figure 1 in partly folded position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the structure in fully folded position;

Figure 4 is an end elevation;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with certai parts removed, and

Figure 6 is a detail viewof means for locking the structure in unfolded position. v

As shown herein the structure comprises the table top parts 10, 12 joined together by hinge means each comprising leaves 13a and 13b and the pivot pin 15.

On the under surface of table top 10 the long angle members 14 and 16 are provided, spaced apart and slightly converging from their inner to their outer ends. On the under surface of tabletop 12 the angle members 18 and 20 are similarly disposed. The hinge leaves may be mounted on the angle members of the top parts respectively. Thus one leaf 13a may be added to the inner end of angle 14 and a leaf 13b to the inner end of angle 18, and another leaf 13a may be welded to the inner end of angle 16 and a leaf 13b to the inner end of angle20.

Depending from the angle members 14 and 16 in alignment transversely of the table top part 10, nearly half way from the inner end to the outer end of part 10, are the brackets 22 and 24 which serve as bearings for rotatably mounting the cross rod 26 spaced from the inner surface of table top part 10. Depending from the angle members 18 and 20, in alignment transversely of the table top part 12, nearly half way from the inner end to the outer end of table top part 12, are the brackets 28 and 30 which serve as bearings for rotatably mounting the cross rod 32 spaced from the under surface of table top part 12.

From cross rods 26 and 32 link-levers 34 and 36 respectively extend to a central support or pedestal on which they are pivotally mounted as will bedescribed. The central support comprises two inverted U-members 38 and 40 extending transversely of the top under the hinged together inner ends of the top parts, eachhaving the end portions 39a, 39b and 41a and41b respectively of the kind described having center and end support means and interconnecting means such that the end support means are elevated to non-operative position when the structure is folded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a struchire of the kind described in which the two top halves are supported in folded position by single link means extending from a center support means to said halves respectively, including means for preventing teetering or oscillating movements of the top parts when in folded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the above described type such that it maybe completely folded or unfolded by an operator standing at one central point, on either side of the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding structure of the kind described which is simple,

durable and efficient and occupies a minimum of floor' space when in folded position.

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection with the drawings in which; 1 t v Figure l is a side elevation of a structure embodying the invention, in unfolded position;

Figure 1a is a detail side view of means carried by the bent outwardly and with swivel mounts s for the castors or wheels w.

It will be noted that end portions 39a, 41a and 39b, 41b which project on either side of the structure, are disposed at a relative angle and thus spaced apart longitudinally of the table to provide solid and non-tipping support for the whole structure in folded position.

Between members 38 and 40 is a third inverted U- shaped member 42 (Figure 5), the arms 42:! and 42b of which serve as parallel vertical guide members on which slide the collars c. The intermediate portion 42c of 42 is shorter than the intermediate portions of members 38 and 40 and the arms 42a and 42b are offset inwardly from the arms 38a, 40a and 38b, 40b of members 38 and 40, except for their lower extremities 43a, 4312 which are bent outwardly and anchored in any suitable way between the arms 38a, 40a and 38b, 40b respectively. Each collar is connected to link-levers 34 and 36 by arms b respectively, pivoted at one end to the collar and at the other end to the link-lever by the pivots p. v

The intermediate portions of 38, 40 and 42 may be bolted or welded together, and provide a support surface on which the inner ends of the table top parts 10 and 12 rest when the table is unfolded.

Link-levers 34 and 36 are provided interconnecting the pedestal as has been described. It will be understood that one link-lever 34 and one link-lever 36 may be used. As shown herein two similar members 34 and two similar members 36 are shown spaced apart laterally of the top parts respectively but the members of each pair are duplicates of one another and lie in the same plane and move together and connect the center support to the top part along the same transverse line. The duplicate link means 34 are fixed at one end to the cross member 26 and at the other end are mounted as by U-brackets 44 for rotation around the central portions 380 and 400 respectively of pedestal member 38.

Around the ends of cross member 26 the torsion springs 27a and 27b are wound. Spring 27a is wound around the portion of member 26 which is between angle member 14 and a link-lever 34 and one end of said spring is anchored to angle member 14 and the other end is anchored to said link. Similarly spring 2711 is wound around the portion of member 26 which is between angle member 16 and a link-lever 34, and one end of said spring is anchored to angle member 16 and the other end is anchored to said link.

The duplicate link-lever means 36 are fixed at one end to a rotatable cross member 32, and at the other end are mounted as by U-brackets 46 for rotation around the central portion 40b of pedestal member 40.

Around the ends of cross member 32 the torsion springs 29a and 29b are wound, the ends of spring 29a being anchored to angle member 16 and link-lever 36 respectively, and the ends of spring 29b being anchored to angle member 18 and a link-lever 36 respectively.

The springs 27a, 27b and 29a and 29b exert force tending to rotate the top parts relative to link-levers 34 and 36 respectively and thus aid in folding the structure substantially throughout the folding step. Instead of two springs a single spring may be provided on each cross member, 26 and 32. Any suitable latch means may be provided for locking the structure in unfolded position. The locking means shown in Figure 6 comprises the latch member 62 which is mounted between the guides 64. Its rear end is pivotally connected to link 66 the other end of which is pivoted at 68 to the cross bar 70 which is rotatably mounted on theunder surface of a top as by brackets 72, and handles 74 are provided projecting from the cross bar 70 at right angles to the cross bar. A spring 76 is interconnected between the latch 62 and a guide plate 64 which urges the latch into locked position. The latch is released by pulling down on a handle 74.

There has thus been provided a folding table structure in which the above stated objects have been accomplished in a thoroughly practical manner.

Pivoted to the underside of the top parts and 12, near their outer ends, as by means of cross bars 48 and 50 pivotally mounted between the angle members 14, 16, and 18, respectively, are the leg means 52 and 54. Brace-links 56 and 58 extend between the leg means 52, S4 and the link-levers 34, 36 respectively, each being pivotally connected at the other end to the link-lever intermediate its ends. These pivotal connection points are predetermined and selected, particularly the points of connection of said brace-links to said link-levers respectively, to cause the leg means to be lifted off the floor substantially at the beginning of table folding action and only returned into contact with the floor substantially at the end of table unfolding action.

Instead of castors or wheels we prefer to provide on the lower ends of the leg means 52 and 54 caps 60 of rubber or other material adapted to frictionally contact the floor and resist movement of the unfolded table. Tables of the kind disclosed herein are often used in school dining halls and for various other institutional uses and the friction caps 60 serve a useful purpose in preventing undesired or unauthorized moving of the table. When it is desired to move the table it is a simple matter 4 to fold it, partly or completely and move it on the castors or wheels on which the center pedestal is mounted.

The arms b by pivotally connecting the link-levers 34 and 36 to the collars c which slide on the vertical guide members 42a, 42b stabilize the top parts in their vertical folded position and prevent them from teetering back and forth as might otherwise occur, for example when the folded table is being moved.

There has thus been provided a structure in which the objects mentioned above are achieved in a thoroughly practical manner.

What we claim is:

1. A folding table comprising two top parts, hinge means joining opposed ends of the top parts for movement of said parts into end to end alignment in unfolded position and into substantially parallel planes in folded position, a center pedestal the height of which determines the level of the top in unfolded position and on which the inner ends of the top parts rest when in unfolded position, a pair of swing arms rotatably mounted at one end on the top of the center pedestal and with their other ends pivotally connected to the top parts respectively at a distance from the inner ends of said top parts which is less than one-half the length of said top parts, and

' means pivotally connected to the top parts adjacent their outer ends.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which the pivot connections between the swing arms and the top parts are spaced below the top parts by brackets depending from the top parts respectively and substantially normal to the top parts.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 including linkbrace means pivotally connected between said leg means and said swing arms respectively at points intermediate the ends of the swing arms and nearer the inner ends of the top parts respectively than the pivot connections between said swing arms and the top parts.

4. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which the center pedestal comprises an inverted U-shaped member, collars are slidably mounted on the respective upright outer portions of said member, a pair of arms are pivotally connected between each collar and the respective members of each pair of swing arms, and means are provided against which the arms independently abut when the structure is completely folded, thereby preventing teetering of the top parts in folded position.

5. A folding table comprising two top parts, hinge means joining opposed ends of the top parts for movement of said parts into end to end alignment in unfolded position and into substantially parallel planes in folded position, a center pedestal which is mounted on antifriction means disposed under the hinge line of the top parts and is wide enough to provide a surface on which the inner ends of the top parts rest when in unfolded position, swing arm means mounted on the center pedestal for swinging movement between horizontal and raised vertical position around a horizontal axis which is adjacent immediately under the level of the top in unfolded position, the other ends of said swing arms being pivotally connected to brackets projecting downwardly from the under surface of the top parts respectively, said brackets being disposed substantially nearer the inner ends than the outer ends of said top parts respectively, legs pivotally connected to the top parts adjacent their outer ends respectively, said legs having friction contact means at their lower ends respectively, and means pivotally connected between said legs and said swing arms respectively, the relationship between the center pedestal, said swing arms, and the top parts being such that the legs are lifted out of contact with the floor immediately after the start of a folding operation.

6. The structure claimed in claim 5 in which the swing arms and the brackets to which their outer ends are pivoted change in angular relation during folding of the structure from being disposed substantially a right angle at the beginning of the folding action to a position in References Cited in the file of this patent which the brackets are aligned with the swing arms at UNITED STATES PATENTS the end of the folding action and are in efiect a continua- O 5 55 tion of the swing arms respectively, thus giving added 2,721,778 wllson 2 56 elevation to the top parts and said legs, and enabling the 5 2747958 Wllson May 1956 lower ends of the legs to clear the floor. 2,764,460 Nelson Sept 2 2,792,270 Anderson May 14, 1957 2,831,741 Wilson April 22, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,879,120 March 24, 1959 Harold Howe et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the -printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as'corrected below.

Column 3 line 50, beginning with "There has thus been provided" strike out all to and including "practical manner." in line 52; column 4,

line 75, after "substantially" insert at Signed and sealed this 18th day of August 1959.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE Attesting Ofiicer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents 

